Early April 2019
However, the weather is also advanced: warmer, and more sunny hours. In 2017, we saw very cold, dark and stormy months of March and April.
I find it interesting: my indoor domesticated birds are reacting, at least in a small way, to the conditions outdoors.
Several older birds did not hatch a single egg of their first nest. I wondered how these 5 to 7 year old birds would perform. They do show their age, by the way they behave, but are all excited about beginning a second nest, so I will know more in another month.
The younger pairs are doing well.... with nests of 4 and 5! One hen was nervous, laid only two eggs, but hatched both.
The Good News is: several of the pairs from which I most wanted offspring, are proving to be good parents! So, I should have some promising birds this fall to carry out my breeding plans for 2020!
I banded the first nest of 2019! They are from an agate/agate/carrying opal pair.
My first Columbia Canary Club bands!!!!!!
I set the nest in a small can, to keep it upright and stable. The little plastic cup contains corn starch, which I use on the foot of any chick that seems too large to slip through the band easily.
The pencil is included to remind everyone:
KEEP GOOD RECORDS!!!
More bird room photos.... and a closeup of my system of keeping the eggs until they are returned to the incubating hens:
And here is the 'FAMILY PORTRAIT' of the 5 nestlings above:
